State Bank to Lose on Olympics

Russia's state development bank says it stands to lose billions of dollars from financing unprofitable construction projects for the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

VEB CEO Vladimir Dmitriyev said in a recent interview with Gazeta.ru that of the 19 projects the bank is funding, at least eight would fail to turn a profit. The eight projects are receiving about $5.2 billion, and Dmitriyev expressed doubts the money will be repaid.

Among those receiving the credits are companies owned by metals tycoons Vladimir Potanin and Oleg Deripaska, and also state-owned Sberbank and Gazprom. All four have asked the government for help in covering some of their losses.